Hanoi: A South Korean woman was found dead in Vietnam near the border with Cambodia last week under unclear circumstances, police said Wednesday. The woman, in her 30s, was discovered on October 8 near the Vietnam-Cambodia border, leading local authorities to investigate the cause of death.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the woman's body underwent an autopsy before being released to her family, with no signs of foul play reportedly found. The Seoul foreign ministry had requested Vietnamese public security officials to investigate her whereabouts after receiving a tip-off from a South Korean national who escaped from a phishing scam gang in Cambodia. The informant alleged that the deceased woman had been confined in a local hotel for an extended period.
South Korean police suspect the woman may have been involved with a local voice phishing group and have initiated an internal investigation. Authorities believe she may have died while attempting to return to Cambodia from Vietnam on orders from a criminal organization.
Recent weeks have seen a rise in crimes targeting South Koreans in Cambodia, with many falling victim to job scams. This situation has garnered national attention in South Korea, prompting officials to work towards repatriating approximately 60 Koreans detained in Cambodia over their involvement in such scams by the end of the week.
Police plan to determine the exact cause of death once they receive the autopsy results from Vietnamese officials.